The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has opposed government proposals to lower the entry grade for training Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers, insisting that pre-school teachers must hold high academic qualifications.
TSC Director of Teacher Professional Management, Dr Reuben Nthamburi, said lowering standards would undermine the foundation of learning in Kenya. “From a professional point of view, I want to plead with the Senate: do not ever think of lowering the qualification of an ECD teacher. It is only in Kenya where we have the lowest-qualified teacher teaching ECD. In developed countries, most ECD teachers are master’s degree holders,” he said.
His remarks followed calls by senators led by Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwarume, who had urged the TSC to reduce the qualification for a Diploma in ECD to a C– (minus). Dr Nthamburi stressed that the Fatuma Chege task force had earlier recommended raising entry requirements to align with international trends, while the Raphael Munavu task force proposed separate diplomas for ECD and primary teacher education.
However, the government later merged the two programmes after public Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) struggled to attract students, and because ECD training was largely being offered by unregulated colleges. Since 2021, TTCs have offered a Diploma in Teacher Education requiring a minimum grade of C plain in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). The new combined curriculum now equips teachers to handle both pre-primary and primary levels, broadening their employability.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi on June 21, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
“This new curriculum includes more training hours and teaching practice across both levels. Graduates can now be employed in either setting, addressing the shortage in the ECD sector,” Dr Nthamburi said. He added that young children must be nurtured in safe environments to enhance attentiveness, confidence, and early interaction skills.
He said that pre-primary learners are introduced to language, creative, environmental and religious activities, and teachers handling them must be conversant with all these core components. “Pre-school has a central role in establishing the quality development of a child. If the children are not properly nurtured at that level, there is no way we are going to achieve social and economic development,” he said.
Dr Nthamburi further noted that pre-primary education is a devolved function and urged counties to invest in infrastructure and safe facilities. Many ECD centres, he said, still operate in dilapidated buildings with poor sanitation. “Counties must provide safe, conducive spaces for learning. Early childhood is no longer called ECD—it is now Pre-Primary 1 and 2. At this stage, teachers should focus on developing interaction and socialisation skills,” he said.
He also urged senators to protect ECD as a county function while supporting national efforts to professionalise the sector. “What is the policy for ECD that will ensure things are done in the right manner? Secondly, with the changing roles of men and women in the growing economy, many of our ECD teachers are women. Are we providing young learners with role models from both genders?” he posed.
The TSC director said that the new Diploma in Teacher Education (DTE) combines the former ECD and primary programmes, enabling teachers to handle PP1, PP2 and Grades 1–6. The first graduates are expected within two and a half years.
Teachers Service Commission Acting CEO Eveleen Mitei before the National Assembly Committee on Implementation at Bunge Tower Nairobi on July 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
TSC’s acting CEO, Ms Everleen Mitei, said the move was in line with the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms.
As of August 2025, the commission had registered 137,145 ECD teachers nationwide. Ms Mutei added that the TSC is reviewing its Act to capture new requirements under the Competency-Based Curriculum.
